More Israeli women changing gender

An increasing number of Israeli women are undergoing the sex-change procedure.

According to health ministry data published Tuesday by Yediot Achronot, 27 Israelis had sex-change operations in 2007 – 15 women and 12 men.

That’s an increase from the previous year, when 10 people – three women and seven men – were changing gender. From 1995 to 2005, a total of 30 people informed the interior ministry they were having the sex-change procedure, but no breakdown was given.

According to Israel Radio, only one clinic in the Jewish state conducts sex-change operations, using a team of top surgeons whose work schedules are sometimes hard to coordinate. This means extended and often uncomfortable waits for those having the procedure, which occurs in stages.